People with the disorder pica compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value.
An affected person might eat relatively harmless items, such as ice. Or they
might eat potentially dangerous items, likes flakes of dried paint or pieces of
metal. In the latter case, the disorder can lead to serious consequences, such
as lead poisoning.

This disorder occurs most often in children and pregnant women. It’s
usually temporary. See your doctor right away if you or your child can’t help
but eat nonfood items. Treatment can help you avoid potentially serious side effects.

Pica also occurs in people who have intellectual disabilities. It’s
often more severe and long-lasting in people with severe developmental disabilities.

What Are the Symptoms of Pica?

People with pica eat nonfood items regularly. The behavior must
continue for at least one month to qualify as pica.

If you have pica, you may regularly eat things such as:

ice

soap

buttons

clay

hair

dirt

sand

the unused remainder of a cigarette

cigarette ashes

paint

glue

chalk

feces

You may also eat other nonfood items.

What Causes Pica?

There’s no single cause of pica. In some cases, a deficiency in
iron, zinc, or another nutrient may be associated with pica. For example,
anemia, or iron deficiency, may be the underlying cause of pica in pregnant
women. Your unusual cravings may be a sign that your body is trying to
replenish low nutrient levels.

People with certain mental health conditions such as
schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder may develop pica as a coping
mechanism.

Some people may even enjoy and crave the textures or flavors of
certain nonfood items. In some cultures, eating clay is an accepted behavior.
This form of pica is called geophagia.

Dieting and malnourishment can both lead to pica. In these cases,
eating nonfood items may help you feel full.

How Is Pica Diagnosed?

There’s no test for pica. Your doctor will diagnose this
condition based on history and several other factors.

You should be honest with your doctor about the nonfood items you’ve
eaten. This will help them develop an accurate diagnosis. It may be hard for them
to determine you have pica if you don’t tell them what you’ve been eating. The
same is true for children or people with intellectual disabilities.

Your doctor may test your blood to see if you have low levels of
zinc or iron. This can help your doctor learn if you have an underlying nutrient
deficiency, such as anemia. Nutrient deficiencies may sometimes be related to pica.

What Are the Complications Associated with Pica?

Eating certain nonfood items can sometimes lead to other serious
conditions. These conditions can include:

poisoning, such as lead poisoning

parasitic infections

intestinal blockages

choking

How Is Pica Treated?

Your doctor will probably begin by treating any complications you’ve
acquired from eating nonfood items. For example, if you have lead poisoning
from eating paint chips, your doctor may prescribe chelation therapy. In this
procedure, you’ll take medication that binds with lead. This will allow you to
excrete the lead in your urine. Your doctor may also prescribe other
medications for lead poisoning, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA.

Your doctor may also order a psychological evaluation to
determine if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder or another mental health
condition. Depending on your diagnosis, they may prescribe medications,
therapy, or both.

Until recently, research hasn’t focused on medications to help
people with pica. A study published in the Journal of Applied
Behavior Analysis suggests that a simple multivitamin supplement may be an
effective treatment in some cases. If a person with pica has an intellectual
disability or mental health disorder, medications for managing behavioral
problems may also help reduce or eliminate their desire to eat nonnutritive
items.

What Is the Outlook for People with Pica?

In children and pregnant women, pica often goes away in a few
months without treatment. If a nutritional deficiency is causing your pica,
treating it should ease your symptoms.

Pica doesn’t always go away. It can last for years, especially in
people who have intellectual disabilities. Your doctor will help you understand
the outlook for your specific case and what you can do to help manage the
condition.